Electric switch



1,624,391 y Aprll- 12 1927. H. P. CLAUSEN ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov. 9, 1923 /fe/fr Val/Jen, by l -Afff' Patented Apr. l2, 11927.

UNITED STATES HENRY P. CLAUSEN, 0F MAMARONECK, YORK, fiS'oiG-llflfd. ISG WESTERN COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEVI YORK, li". Y., A CORPRATN 0l? llli'W ELECTRIC S/VITCH.

Application filed .November 9, Serial No. 673565.

'lhis intention relates to electric switches having a movable contact and a plurality of stationary contacts, the object being` to provide a switch oi this type in which the movable contact may readily be loclred in any one of its adjusted positions and readily unlocked for adjustment.

ln accordance' with the general features of 'the invention the movable Contact arm is so mounted for rotation or swinging movement with respect to the stationary contacts 'tl at jnessuii-'e applied thereto in one direction will loci; it against movement or rotation and pressure in the other direction will release it for operation.

Specifically, the invention comprises a shaft supporting a contact arm which is adapted to eng; with a plurality of contact points. rlhe Contact shaft is normally loose in its bearing, permitting the arm to be moved over the contact points at will, but a slight pressure on the contact arm will cause it to be .flexed downward against one of the contact points, binding the operating shaft in its bearing and locking` the switch arm in its operated position.

In accordance with another feat-ure of the invention, means is provided for moving and holding` the switch arm out of engagement with the Contact points when the switch is released from its bound position.

Other features and advantages of the invention and several possible applications thereof will be apparent from the following; description and the accompanying drawing^ in which:

Fig. l is a fragrn'ientary plan view of a rotary switch embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, showingv the switch in its normal. position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. Q, but showing the switch locked in its operated position.

*Y Fim l is a partial sectional view taken on the line ls-4 ot Figs. .l and 6 showing a modified form of switch arm.

l1" s. 5 and 6 are plan views showing two different modifications of the invention.

Referring); to the drawing, the device illustrated in Figs. l, 9. and 3 consists of a plate l0 of insulating material upon which a pluralitv of projecting contacts 1l are mounted. A switcharm 12 is fastened to a shaft 13 which passes through a bushing or sleeve 1d of conducting material securely mounted in the plate l0. The opening in the sleeve le is large enough to permit a slight lateral movement of the shaft 13 whereby a `tilting` of the shaft will produce a locking` eli'ect between the shaft and the sleeve. as shown in Figs. il and rhe shaft 13 is provided on the end adjacent the switch arm 12 with an operating lniob 15 and at the other end with a pin 16 designed to limit the upward movement of the shaft in the sleeve lil- When the switch arm 12 in the position shown in Fig. 2, heldout of engagement with the contacts 11 by means of a leaf spring; li' which holds the shaft 13 in its extreme upward position. f A slight longitudinal pressure upon the knob 157 however. will cause the upper edge of the shaft 13 to press aga-inst the edge of the sleeve ld and the lower edge of the shaft to contact with the lower edge of the sleeve in such amanner that the shaft will be held very lirinly in the position shown in Fig. 3, owing to the switch arm 12 tlening downward sliohtly and binding; against the contact l1. This construction permits tie establishment of a very satisfactory circuit connection between the shaft 13 and the sleeve or bushing 1-1, which elements are connected to the circuits to be controlled. 1illhen the switch is in the position shown in Fig. l* a slight pull exerted on the lrnohil will loosen the shaft ld in the sleeve l-l and the shaft and switch arm will be returned upward to the normal position. When in this position, the switch may be rotated to any desired position without any danger of momentarily connecting` together adjacent contact points ll, and producing, for example. an are where adjacent contacts are connected to circuit-s having considerable difference in potential.

ln Figs. 41 and 5, contacts ll and sleeve 1d are sunk below the surface of the plate 10 in holes 18. Nith this construction7 a t!- shaped switch. arm 19, having a handgrip of insulating' material. is employed having: one end plugging into the sleeve let and the other engaging a contact 11. This construction is particularly useful where the elements are connected to circuits' having high voltages and where it is desirable to avoid accidental contact. f

A somewhat similar modification is shown in Fig. 6. In this construction, the sunken contacts ll are assembled in straight lines and are so arranged that a minimum space is required for mounting a comparatively large number of switch points. The switch arm Q0 employed in this construction is identical to that shown in Fig. et, and may readily be removed from one sleeve 14 and plugged into another, in which position a slight pressure on the handgrip will produce a locking eect between the shaft and the sleeve. Other modiications and changes in the specific details of construction herein shown and described may obviously be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

that is claimed is:

l. A switching device comprising a bush ing, a rotatable shaft loosely mounted in said bushing, and a switch arm carried by said shaft and freely rotatable in one vertical position of said shaft, said switch arm beinflexed when the shaft is depressed to lock the shaft against said bushing.

A switching device comprisingr a support, a sleeve mounted therein, a rotatable shaft loosely mounted in said sleeve and capable of vertical and lateral movement therein, and a switch arm carried by said shaft and freely rotatable in one vertical and lateral position oi said shaft and adapted to be locked in another vertical and lateral position thereof.

3. A switching derice conlprising a support, a sleeve mounted therein, a plurality of contacts disposed about said sleeve, a rotatable shaft loosely mounted in said sleeve and capable of vertical and lateral movement therein, a switch arm carried by said shaft and adapted to engage with said contacts, said switch arm being so flexed that it is out of engagement with said contacts when said shaft is raised and is bound against one of said contacts to lock the shaft against said sleeve when said shaft is lowered.

4. i switching device comprisine4 a` support, a sleeve mounted therein, a plurality of raised contacts mounted upon said sup port about said sleeve, a rotaiuble shaft loosely mounted in said sleeve and capable of vertical and lateral movement therein, and a switch arm carried by said shaft und adapted to engage with such contacts, said switch arm being so flexed that it held out of engagement with said contacts when said shaft is raised in said sleeve and is bound against one of said raised contacts to loci: the shaft against said sleeve when the shaft is lowered therein.

5. A switching device comprisinga Vupport, a sleeve mounted therein, a plurality of raised contacts mounted on said support about said sleeve, a rotatable shaft loosely mounted in said sleeve and capable of Vertr cal and lateral movement therein, a switch arm carried by said shaft and adapted to engage with said contacts, said switch :um beingso flexed that it held out of engage ment with said contacts when said shaft is raised in said sleeve and is bound uejainst one of said contacts to lock the shaft against said sleeve when said shaft is lowered therein, and a spring adapted to force and hold said shaft and switch arm upward when said shaft is released from its locked position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of October il. D.,

HENRY l. CLAUSEN. 

